School of Theology to publish book with help from Columbia Baptist Church

08/11/2011

Columbia Baptist Church staff present a $1,500 check to Campbellsville University School of Theology to cover costs of printing the school’s book, “Producing World Changers for Christ.” From left are: Dr. Shane Garrison, assistant professor of educational ministries; Dr. John Hurtgen, dean of the School of Theology and professor; Darrell Overstreet, chairman of the budget committee at Columbia Baptist Church; Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of CU; Daniel Marcum, youth minister at Columbia Baptist Church and a 1996 graduate of CU; and Dr. Ted Taylor, transitional pastor at Columbia Baptist and professor of Christian studies at CU. (Campbellsville University Photo by Christina Kern)

Aug. 11, 2011
For Immediate Release

Columbia Baptist Church staff present a $1,500 check to Campbellsville University School of Theology to cover costs of printing the school's book, “Producing World Changers for Christ.” From left are: Dr. Shane Garrison, assistant professor of educational ministries; Dr. John Hurtgen, dean of the School of Theology and professor; Darrell Overstreet, chairman of the budget committee at Columbia Baptist Church; Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of CU; Daniel Marcum, youth minister at Columbia Baptist Church and a 1996 graduate of CU; and Dr. Ted Taylor, transitional pastor at Columbia Baptist and professor of Christian studies at CU. (Campbellsville University Photo by Christina Kern)

By Christina L. Kern, office assistant

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky.- Campbellsville University's School of Theology will print its first faculty-written book, “Producing World Changers for Christ,” with help from Columbia Baptist Church.
Columbia Baptist Church presented CU's School of Theology a check for $1,500 to pay the printing costs for the book.

The check was presented to Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of Campbellsville University; Dr. John Hurtgen, dean of the School of Theology and professor; and Dr. Shane Garrison, assistant professor of educational ministries by Columbia Baptist Church members Daniel Marcum, youth minister and a 1996 graduate of CU; Darrell Overstreet, chairman of the budget committee; and Dr. Ted Taylor, transitional pastor who also serves as professor of Christian studies at CU.

“The book, birthed at the School of Theology's retreat last summer, will be used by students this fall in the class ‘Spiritual Formation,' a class that helps students to examine their call to ministry as well as the spiritual disciplines needed to fulfill that call,” Hurtgen said.

Taylor said Columbia Baptist Church desired to have a part in the production of the book and that church staff would be working collectively through the book's principle of leadership and ministry.

Hurtgen said, “The book, ‘Producing World Changers for Christ' explains the guiding values, or disciplines, of people who are ‘world changers for Christ.'”

He said these are people who are: (1) Passionately evangelical: whose message is the good news of the love of God in Christ Jesus; (2) Rooted in the Biblical story: who know the power of the word of God in a person's life;

(3) Church-connected: who know that Jesus created the church to be his hands and feet in the world; (4) Servant leaders: who know that the greatest power in the world is to serve others in the name of Christ;

(5) Spiritual entrepreneurs: who discover people's spiritual needs and find creative ways to meet them; and (6) Partners in an enduring fellowship: who forge brotherhoods and sisterhoods for friendship and partnership in the gospel.

Carter and Hurtgen expressed their gratitude to Columbia Baptist Church for its “continuing support of the university and the School of Theology.”

Carter said Columbia Baptist Church's generous donation demonstrated the heart of the church as well as its commitment to the ministry of Christian higher education.

“Between Columbia Baptist's staff and its members there is tremendous support for CU,” Hurtgen said. He mentioned Taylor, a CU School of Theology professor serving as transitional pastor, as well as the youth minister, Daniel Marcum, a 1996 graduate; and Gerald Chafin, worship minister, a 1983 CU graduate, as among the CU supporters.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with over 3,000 students offering 63 undergraduate programs, 17 master's degrees and five postgraduate areas. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.